Apart from these platforms of the future, the Group is seeking to optimize its return on successful research which offers industrial potential but lies outside its areas of key strategic focus.

In thermoplastics processing, Solvay’s patented NIDACELL® technology offers an original, exclusive process for the continuous extrusion of honeycomb panels in PVC, PPSU, PVDF, etc.

A pilot line at its Neder-Over-Heembeek (Belgium) research centre exists to validate different stages of its technology (in-line drawing, co-extrusion, variable thickness panels) and produce representative samples.

With a dozen patent families filed and published, Solvay is protecting valuable original know-how. It is looking to put this to work by selling multiple licences to plastics processors across the world to allow them to access various large volume (building, automotive, sport and leisure) or high value (aeronautics, railways) markets offering excellent economic prospects.

Sale of the PRIEX® activity
Initiated to open up new commercial opportunities for its polyolefins, the Priex project sought to develop a complete range of additives and adhesives for improving the adhesive and mechanical qualities of the high density polypropylenes and polyethylenes used in multilayer applications, specialty compounds and stress-resistant coatings or for reinforcing films, fibres and pipes.

Given, however, the Group’s new strategy of offering the widest possible range of specialty polymers, the Priex activity offered only limited synergies and commercial opportunities. It was therefore decided to sell it to an outside company better placed to capture its added value.
In 2008, the Priex activity was therefore sold to Addcomp, an innovative Dutch SME, which specializes in producing specialty additives, mainly for polyolefin, polystyrene, polyester and polyamide applications.

A promising field: nutrition
Research into the diversification possibilities of Solvay compounds has also taken the Group into the promising field of nutrition

SOLACTIS® is an innovative nutritional ingredient based on GalactoFructose. This disaccharide enables food processing industries to develop new products combining tasty recipes and health benefits - intestinal health, mineral balance and management of metabolic syndrome .Such developments offer significant added value for new yoghurts, biscuits, beverages and similar products.

Major breakthoughs have been made in 2008 with several Food European groups. In Asia, the first commercial products containing GalactoFructose (infant formula, milk products, and food supplements) and dedicated to intestinal health have been successfully launched.

The animal feed industry, with its fundamental link between food and health, is another new field of exploration. With the ban on antibiotics, the livestock farming industry is offering an attractive new market. For pets we have brought out a product which meets up-to-date nutritional expectations.